LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the Southeast Region
Volume 6, Issue 6 July 2011
Pastors: Please distribute this to your delegates, leaders & congregation
CREATING THE SPACE TO INNOVATE
As a Floridian, the conclusion of the space shuttle program in July brings some feelings of sadness and loss. However, the following article by John Maxwell, which recently appeared in Leadership Wired, offers some interesting insights for us as church leaders . . .
On July 8th, NASA will launch a space shuttle for the final time when Atlantis lifts off for the International Space Station. The flight of Atlantis marks the last of 135 manned missions conducted over the past thirty years by NASA’s space shuttle program. The program has done much to advance scientific knowledge of the universe:
· Deployed and repaired the Hubble Space Telescope
· Assembled the International Space Station
· Launched the Magellan spacecraft to explore Venus
· Launched the Galileo probe to explore Jupiter
The Law of Sacrifice
Given the space shuttle program’s popularity and notable successes, many are mystified that the program is being scrapped. However, the decision to shut it down illustrates an important leadership principle pertaining to innovation: leaders must give up to go up. Creativity and forward-thinking are undermined when leaders refuse to part with the past.
Pursuing a vision for the future often requires leaders to abandon existing systems—even ones that may be working well today. Ultimately, NASA hopes to send manned spacecrafts beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to investigate asteroids and to land on Mars. Space shuttles are not designed to make such long voyages into outer space. Although the shuttles are serving their function as transport vehicles between Earth and the International Space Station, their upkeep and operation divert attention from NASA’s long-range goals. Thus, rather than maintaining the shuttles, NASA has decommissioned them in order to focus its resources on inventing a spacecraft capable of carrying a crew into deep space.
Summary
In the words of author Kevin Kelly, in the 21st century, “success flows directly from innovation, not optimization. It is not gained by perfecting the known, but by imperfectly seizing the unknown.” As leaders, we cannot reach for the unknown until we let go of what’s familiar. To free up the space (the funds, manpower, energy, and time) to innovate, leaders have to make sacrifices. What might you need to give up to reach a higher level of leadership?
Our bishops are wisely creating space at the July 13 – 17 General Conference for the purpose of ministry innovation. Be in prayer for all attendees, and participate from home through live streaming of all key conference sessions at www.gc11.org/live.
Also recognize that creating space to innovate isn’t just the task of NASA or GC11 – it is the responsibility of each local church and leader. Perfecting the comfortable known OR risking the uncomfortable unknown is a choice we make in every board meeting and decision. B T Roberts would tell you that risking the unknown can be very uncomfortable, but that it is necessary if we’re going to live by faith and keep in step with the Spirit.
FMC INNOVATIVE CHANGES ALREADY UNDERWAY:
Some updates are just too good to wait until General Conference to announce:
· NEW NAME: We are now the FMCUSA, instead of FMCNA, to more accurately reflect the specific geography of our General Conference. This new format can be adopted by all General Conferences in the global FMC family (i.e.: FMCCanada, FMCMexico, etc.).
· NEW MAGAZINE: LLM is the newly revised Light & Life Magazine which makes its appearance in July. It is a concise, monthly publication printed in English and Spanish; bulk copies will be sent to each church for distribution. It is also available for e-readers (Kindle, Nook, etc.). Taking only 20 minutes to completely read – but worthy of much longer reflection – its articles are a great curriculum for small groups, Sunday PM or Wed PM meetings.
· NEW WEBSITE: www.FMCUSA.org is our new website which will be unveiled at GC11. It will be an integrated site (including FMWM [Free Methodist World Missions] and LLM [Light & Life Magazine]. It will be optimized for mobile and tablet use, and connected to social networks. You’ll be able to support missionaries, report your innovative ministry ideas, etc.
· NEW APPS:: Free Methodist iPad, iPhone and Android apps will also be released in July
These changes make greater use of technology to strengthen the connectedness, capacity and effectiveness of our global FM family for the purpose of increasing innovative ministry.
EVERY PERSON A PASSIONATE PRAY-ER:
Pray that we become INWARDLY HEALTHY & OUTWARDLY FOCUSED congregations,
comprised of Spirit FILLED & SPILLED believers,
who work together to RIP THE ROOF and bring others closer to Jesus
as we live out the EVERY PERSON DREAM.
June 2011 / SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE / GCC CONFERENCEJune 26 – July 2 / Ocala: Bread of Life
Pastor Tommy Dennis (Stephany)
/ Pineville LA: Edgewood
Pastor Alex Bigger (Felisha)
July 3 - 9 / Orange City: Living Water
Pastor Nelson Hom (Trudy)
/ Provencal LA
Pastor Mike Marbut (Sue)
July 10 - 16 / Orlando Fellowship
Pastor Daryl Smith (Carolyn)
/ Shreveport LA: Central
Under the supt.
July 17 - 23 / Orlando First Spanish
Pastor Juan Grullon (Lucia)
/ Winnsboro LA: Liddieville
Pastor Kenneth Lukens (Evangelene)
2166 Hwy 135 Winnsboro LA 71295
July 24 - 31 / Pt Charlotte: New Vision Fellowship
Larry Jones (Laurie)
/ Mississippi State Hospital in Whitfield MS
Chaplain R Philip Cartrette (Pat)
PARTNER with our SOUTHEAST REGION MISSIONARIES:
Josh & Susy Fajardo (Spain)
Mike & Maria Long (Greece)
Jack Munos (Haiti)
Rick & Cookie Ireland (Haiti)
INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCE NEWS
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE:
CONFERENCE CLERGY UPDATES:
· Congratulations to new parents Blair and Dawn Salmons, on the arrival of their first child – Benen Andrew – born Friday, June 17 at 5:52pm; 7 lb 14 oz, 21” long.
· Ruth’s House – the first residential home for women in the Samaritan Village ministry - held an open house Sunday, June 26 in Orlando. SAC elder Rhonda Stapleton directs this ministry. To learn more / support this ministry go to: www.samaritanvillage.net
CALENDAR:
Fri - Mon, July 8 – 11: SAC YOUTH CAMP
105 teens and 30 counselors will attend this year’s retreat at Camp Geneva in Fruitland Park. Pray that commitments will be made and lives will be transformed.
Wed–Sun, July 13-17: GENERAL CONFERENCE in Rochester, NY
Check the website often: www.gc11.org
Pray daily for a fresh moving of the Spirit at Conference
Participate thru live streaming daily if you cannot attend: www.gc11.org/live
Fri – Sat, Aug 5 – 6: SAC Cabinet Overnight Retreat at Lakeland Park
District Leaders, BOA members, and all district and conference MEG-MAC members will gather for prayer and planning. This weekend will be the catalyst for conference ministry momentum for the coming school year
Thurs, Aug 18: Mentor Training Day at Asbury Seminary, Orlando 9:00am – 2:00pm.
Whether you are officially serving as a mentor to a Conference Ministerial Candidate (CMC) or want to be more effective in any current or potential mentoring situation, this free day of training will explore the facets of Spiritual Mentoring and provide specialized breakout sessions. Free lunch included. Register with Ms. Lisa Perez at 407-482-7567 or . (ATS: 8401 Valencia College Lane Orlando FL 32825)
FALL REGIONAL TRAINING EVENT LOCATIONS:
Bring your Summer Trimester On Purpose Report (May – August review)
Sat, Aug 27 Central FL (9:30am - lunch) Orlando First Spanish
Sat, Sept 10 South FL (9:30am – lunch) Hialeah: Ministerios Nueva Vision
Sat, Oct 8: West Coast FL Celebration Gathering at Lake Seminole Park, 10015 Park
Blvd (74th Ave N. Seminole, FL 33777). Come share your stories and lunch!
Tues – Wed, Oct 4 - 5: Southeast USA MISSIO INTENSIVE
“Missio Intensives are a guided working lab to help your church find the balance of meaningful gatherings and scattered incarnational communities.” The Missio Intensive is being hosted by Browns Mill Community Church in Newnan GA, a FM Church Plant. Limit: 200. Read more about it at www.missio.us
Fri-Sat, Oct 28-29: RIP FEST 3: ING! with Bishop Roller at St. Pete: Cornerstone.
INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCE NEWS
AL-GA MISSION CONFERENCE:
CONFERENCE CLERGY UPDATES:
Best wishes to CMC Herisse Morisset and fiancé Mercedes who will be married at McEachern Memorial UMC in Powder Springs GA on Saturday, July 13 at 4:00pm.
Wed-Sun, July 13 – 17: GENERAL CONFERENCE in Rochester, New York.
Clergy Delegates: Keith Cowart; reserve: Lewis Bunn
Lay Delegates: Christi Bunn; reserve: Tom Williams
Fri – Sun, Aug 19 - 21: GEORGIA Weekend with Supt. Riley:
Fri, Aug 19: GA District Pastors Mtg, 9am – lunch at Columbus: Christ Community
Sat, Aug 20: Supt Darrel meets individually with GA pastors
Sun, Aug 21: Installation of Pastor Eric Newman at Macon First, 11am
Sat, Sept 24: FALL RALLY DAY: ING! with Bishop Roller for all AL-GA congregations at Christ Community Church in Columbus GA. This is a “must – attend” event for all pastors, delegates and lay leaders. Don’t come alone; pack a van!
Tues – Wed, Oct 4 - 5: Southeast USA MISSIO INTENSIVE
“Missio Intensives are a guided working lab to help your church find the balance of meaningful gatherings and scattered incarnational communities.” The Missio Intensive is being hosted by Browns Mill Community Church in Newnan GA, a FM Church Plant. Limit: 200. Read more about it at www.missio.us
Thurs, Oct 6: MISSIO DEBRIEF
Pastors attending the Missio Intensive are encouraged to stay over Wednesday night, and gather with Supt. Riley to debrief the experience together Thursday AM.
“It’s easy to come up with new ideas.
The hard part is letting go of what worked for you 2 years ago,
but will soon be out of date.”
Roger von Oech
GULF COAST CONFERENCE:
GCC FAMILY CAMP REPORT: Rex Bullock was an excellent camp speaker and pastor, challenging us all that the Mission Is Possible! Once again camp attendance grew from the previous year. Don’t forget to turn in your Action Plan summaries to Supt Riley () and Pastor Rex () THIS WEEK! Supt Riley will compile all responses and send them out to all GCC pastors & delegates.
Wed-Sun, July 13 – 17: GENERAL CONFERENCE in Rochester, New York.
Clergy Delegate: Monty Bower
Lay Delegate: S. Alan Tinsley; reserve: Hershal Paul
Watch main sessions live at www.gc11.org/live.
Sat, Oct 1: FALL RALLY DAY: ING! with Bishop Roller for all GCC Congregations.
Save the date! It’s going to be an incredible event. Put it on your church calendars now!
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